tagged w/ Don't Ask Don't Tell
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http://goo.gl/k28i9 -- I wish there was a modern professor Henry Higgins who could work his courtly English magic on the Republican Party. Only he wouldn’t be focusing on their diction, posture, wardrobe, and manners… well, maybe their manners. If I had my druthers, he’d zero in on their homophobia.http://goo.gl/k28i9 -- I wish there was a modern professor Henry Higgins who could... more
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In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of
OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Despite Obama signing the bill
last December authorizing the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), it is still
unsafe for service members to come out until 60 days after certification by
President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen. Recently Secretary of
Defense Robert Gates stated that he is prepared to move forward on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal certification before he leaves office at the end of June.
When asked where we stand with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and when it
will finally take effect, Sarvis stated, “Unfortunately we’re in a holding pattern right
now on the repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. Repeal has not happened. ‘Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell’ is still the law. We’re pushing the White House, pushing the Pentagon
to get certification which is an important part of the process. To get certification by
the President, Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to get those three together this month in June before Secretary of Defense Gates leaves. There’s some signs that certification may slip, may not happen this
month and if it does slip that certification could well be in July or later. Then there’s another part of the process. Once we have the certification, an additional 60 days
has to run before we have repeal of the statute known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
finally goes away. All of this could come together by mid or late September or
October. So unfortunately we have several more months to go before this law is
gone entirely. In the meantime we caution and advice service members to be
careful, to serve in silence, until we have this final repeal.”
While we are in this holding pattern the House Republicans have attached ‘Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the National Defense
Act. Obama has stopped short of specifically stating that he would veto the final
bill when it is passed by both the House and Senate if that bill includes the current House language. Openly gay Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin,
Jared Polis and David Cicilline stated in a letter to Obama, “Because this issue is so
important in so many ways, we think it would be the best course for you to reaffirm
your strong support of the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by making it explicit that
you would veto a bill in the unlikely event that it came to you, which undermined
the decision that you led us to make last year – namely a military that does not discriminate unfairly and does not turn away patriotic, productive Americans
seeking to serve their country.”
This is an extremely important issue for our LGBT community. We must not become complacent and make sure this archaic legislation is removed once and for all.
Updates to Come….
Listen to Interview & More Info:
http://voices.outtakeonline.com/2011/06/gay-vet-advocate-speaks-out-on-dadt.htmlIn this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of
OUTTAKE... more
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It is expected that Texas congressman Ron Paul will be announcing his presidential run since he has formed a presidential exploratory committee.
The religious right is not pleased.
At the American Family Association's One News Now filtered news service, Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, a conservative Christian group that has been fighting against gays being able to serve in the military, declared,
" Paul supported President Barack Obama and homosexual activists with his vote during last year's lame-duck session of the 111th Congress to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" — the law excluding homosexuals from serving openly in the U.S. military.
[...]
I think he should be held accountable for that vote. Certainly anyone who supports the military should question his support of the armed forces with that vote on his record."
Ron Paul served in both the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard and in the 2008 presidential campaign, reportedly received more military and veterans donations than any other candidate.
Elaine Donnelly, who has never served in the armed forces, has previously declared that "that service members can’t be counted on – or trained – to control their sexual urges."
Continued at:
http://www.goddiscussion.com/60482/christians-should-not-vote-for-ron-paul-according-to-religious-right/It is expected that Texas congressman Ron Paul will be announcing his presidential run... more
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The story of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, a gay servicemember who died in the closet in Afghanistan, months after President Obama signed repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."The story of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, a gay servicemember who died in the closet in... more
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Gay and Lesbian service members discharged under the now dead "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban often face one last enduring humiliation after their forced separation from the military: Uncle Sam wants his money back.
Several blogs are highlighting cases of the Department of Defense forcing gay vets to repay thousands of dollars in ROTC tuition payments, signing bonuses and other benefits.
Ostensibly, payback is required because these gay service members didn't fulfill the terms of their military contracts. In extenuating reality, they were discharged under what the U.S. Congress now acknowledges was a discriminatory policy.
In some cases, the Department of the Treasury has confiscated yearly tax refunds to "reimburse" the Pentagon.
The Pentagon's policy of siccing bill collectors on gay vets got renewed attention recently after Lt. Dan Choi—one of the most prominent proponents of repealing the gay ban—publicized the $2,500 bill he received from the Defense Department for the "unearned portion" of his military pay.
Choi published an open letter to President Obama declaring his refusal to pay the Pentagon: "My obligations to take a stand, knowing all the continued consequences of my violations, are clear. I refuse to pay your claim."
Other soldiers have been asked to pay as much as $78,000 in education reimbursement.
AmericaBlog has set up a petition to pressure the Pentagon to end its policy of sending bill collectors after gay and lesbian vets discharged under DADT. So far, the petition has collected more than 4,400 signatures, with the aim of 5,000.
http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/02/01/dont-ask-may-be-dead-but-uncle-sam-still-wants-gay-vets-to-pay-upGay and Lesbian service members discharged under the now dead "Don't Ask,... more
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From foreign policy to economics to social policy to philosophy, this is 180° in less than 180 seconds!From foreign policy to economics to social policy to philosophy, this is 180° in... more
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With his signature today, President Obama put in motion the end of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which has hurt our military as a whole, has forced thousands of those who serve to do so under a cloud of anxiety and isolation, and has stood as a symbol of the barriers to unity and equality in our country. As the President put it, “For we are not a nation that says, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’”
During the signing ceremony in a packed auditorium at the Interior Department, President Obama said, “No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie or look over their shoulder.” Quoting the Chairman of his Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, Pres. Obama went on to declare, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.”
This piece includes a number of high resolution color photographs, as well as the video of the signing ceremony.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/president-obama-signs-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-out-of-many-we-are-one/With his signature today, President Obama put in motion the end of the... more
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By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate on Saturday ended Clinton-era law, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a 17-year policy of banning gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in the military.
Six Republicans initially crossed the aisle to vote against the policy: Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
The Senate vote is a vindication of Obama’s decision to push for congressional repeal as opposed to unilateral executive action, though activists note he could have done both.
http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/12/20/senate-votes-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate on... more
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An excerpt from an article, 'Joe Lieberman, Civil Rights Hero,' written by Andrew Sullivan for The Atlantic, found at: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/12/joe-lieberman-civil-rights-hero.html
"These men and women deserve our support. Period. All of them. It's inconceivable that in wartime, we should be making any discriminatory exceptions among those who fight for us, that we should honor any of them less than the rest, allow any criterion or characteristic to distract from the simple fact that they are American servicemembers - not gay or straight ones or black or Hispanic or white ones, not male and female ones, but Americans, in the US uniform, whose identity as soldiers begins and ends there."An excerpt from an article, 'Joe Lieberman, Civil Rights Hero,' written by... more
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Finally with a 63-33 vote the senate put an end to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
military policy. This is a huge victory in the repeal of DADT. The bill now moves
Obama's desk for the final vote. If DADT is repealed it means that gays can
finally openly be accepted by the military & could acknowledge their sexual
orientation without the fear of being fired. President Obama stated, "The Senate
has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national
security while violating the very ideals that our brave men & women in uniform
risk their lives to defend." The repeal of DADT will not go into effect immediately.
There will be a 60-day waiting period as the Pentagon implements new rules.
Listen to this exclusive audio byte Political Satirist Kate Clinton talks
about the repeal & Gay Leaders Statements:
http://blog.outtakeonline.com/2010/12/senate-votes-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell.htmlFinally with a 63-33 vote the senate put an end to the "Don't Ask,... more
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In a major victory for gay rights advocates as well as President Obama, the Senate on Saturday repealed the ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military. The repeal of DADT closed a 17-year struggle over a policy that forced thousands of Americans to leave the ranks of the military and caused others to keep secret their sexual orientation.
By a vote of 65 to 31, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama a repeal of the Clinton-era law, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a policy that critics said amounted to government-sanctioned discrimination, which treated gay and lesbian troops as second-class citizens. The President is expected to sign the measure into law next week, delivering Pres. Obama a victory on one of his chief campaign promises.
This piece includes a number of high-resolution photographs, a memorable slide show and two videos, including a music video.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/senate-strikes-down-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/In a major victory for gay rights advocates as well as President Obama, the Senate on... more
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he Senate will hold a final vote on "don't ask, don't tell" at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Earlier Saturday, the Senate voted 63-33 to proceed to a final vote to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy which bans openly gay people from serving in the armed forces.
President Barack Obama called the advancing of the "don't ask, don't tell" repeal toward a final vote a "historic step toward ending the controversial policy."
"It is time to close this chapter in our history," Obama said.
Six Republicans crossed party lines to vote for the bill, which is supported by Democrats and Obama. A simple majority will pass the Senate bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."
Following the 3 p.m. vote, the Senate will consider an amendment from Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, on START, a nuclear arms treaty with Russia.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also announced that the Senate will be in session Sunday afternoon to continue the START debate.
Just before the "don't ask, don't tell" vote, a bill that would have offered a path to citizenship to some illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children failed a similar procedural vote.
Known formally as the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, the DREAM Act fell five votes short of the 60 needed to be considered for final passage.
Obama said Saturday that the failure of the Senate to move the DREAM Act forward was "incredibly disappointing."
The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," 250-175. Passage of the legislation in the Senate would be a political victory for Obama and the Democrats.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, George Voinovich of Ohio, and Scott Brown of Massachusetts voted to advance the measure.
Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who co-sponsored the legislation that would repeal the policy, said Friday that Republican senators supporting the bill had "shown courage."
Lieberman said that the bill's co-sponsors had worked closely with the Defense Department in crafting its language.
But Pentagon officials are warning gay and lesbian soldiers that the current law will temporarily remain in place if the bill passes as they review the legal technicalities of the repeal.
A guidance memo would be sent to military personnel informing them of the change, which would remain in effect for at least 60 days after it is signed into law, Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan said.
Conservative Republicans have argued that, among other things, a repeal would place an unreasonable burden on the military at a time when it is facing severe strains in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The Senate is convening this weekend to finish up matters at hand before the lame-duck congressional session ends.
The DREAM Act would have offered legal standing to immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children under the age of 16 and have lived in the country for at least five years.
Other requirements included graduating from high school or obtaining a GED diploma and demonstrating "good moral character."
Even then, only a six-year conditional status would be awarded. Before moving to the next phase, the students would need to meet additional requirements -- attending college or serving in the military for at least two years, and passing criminal background checks.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/18/dadt.dream.act/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1he Senate will hold a final vote on "don't ask, don't tell" at 3... more
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The Senate is expected to take up the DREAM act and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell today. Despite conservative opposition and a ridiculous 60 vote requirement to get anything done in the Senate, we may be on the verge of two great victories for what's good and right.The Senate is expected to take up the DREAM act and the repeal of Don't Ask,... more
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Like the Wonder Twins minus that annoying monkey Gleek, Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson combine the power of the "That's Gay" and "Modern Lady" franchises in this recap of the issues that faced gays and women in 2010. Let Bryan and Erin walk you past memory-lane mileposts including Johnny Weir's "flamboyance," Katy Perry's boobs, Gisele Bundchen's views on other womens' boobs, and the controversies surrounding gay marriage and Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Bonus: Bryan and Erin unveil a secret pact involving the Empire State Building that will make you forget all about Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
That's Gay is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of That's Gay, Bryan Safi explores gay issues and stereotypes as they are portrayed by the clueless media. For more Bryan visit http://current.com/groups/thats-gay/ and Current TV.
For good reason, no woman has ever had the balls, moxie or delusion to claim the title of "the world's premiere basic cable expert on lady stuff."
Until now.
Meet Erin Gibson. She's freakishly tall, sort of smart, and willing to do just about anything to get a bemused chuckle.
Her segment, Modern Lady, on infoMania, is dedicated to reporting and commenting on what's happening on Planet Lady.*
*The asterisk next to "Planet Lady" is actually a typo.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Erin Gibson, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 11/10c on Current TV.
Go to http://current.com/infomania for more, and make sure to check out our Facebook profile for special features at http://facebook.com/infomania.Like the Wonder Twins minus that annoying monkey Gleek, Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson... more
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By Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger
Dr. Kenneth Katz recently published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine titled “Health Hazards of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This week, he penned an op/ed for RH Reality Check about his experiences treating U.S. military at an STD clinic in San Diego. Dr. Katz sees the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” rule for LGB members of the military as a huge roadblock to good medical care. He’s pretty confident that his military patients feel safe divulging their sexual histories to a civilian doctor like himself. But when those troops go overseas, they are cared for by military doctors. Technically, doctor-patient communication is exempt from DADT, but many patients don’t realize that they can tell their military doctors about gay sex without fear of reprisals (at least in theory). Dr. Katz’s patients have told him that they won’t go for recommended follow-up STD screening after they ship out because they’re afraid to be honest with their doctors. He worries about how many troops are suffering from treatable infections in war zones because they aren’t allowed to serve openly.
Food stamp use skyrockets, swordfish sales unaccountably flat
Monica Potts of TAPPED points to the alarming statistic that in the last month alone an additional 500,000 Americans went on food stamps. She notes that the right wing website Daily Caller is alarmed not by the fact that fellow citizens can’t afford food, but rather that there’s no gruel-only foodstamp program available:
Meanwhile, the conservative news site The Daily Caller is shocked, shocked, to learn that you can use food stamps to buy all manner of food. The government, apparently, doesn’t restrict you from purchasing an $18-per-pound swordfish steak from Whole Foods. But that kind of discovery, like almost everything else in the “debate” over food stamp use, is the sort of ridiculous one that comes from a person who’s never been hungry.
The Hyde Amendment
In Campus Progress, Jessica Arons and Madina Agénor call for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment for being an assault on the reproductive rights of poor women and women of color. The Supreme Court declared abortion to be a constitutional right in 1973, yet nearly 40 years later, the Hyde Amendment still prohibits nearly all federal funding for abortions. In practice, the women most affected by the Hyde Amendment are those who depend on government health care programs like Medicaid and the Indian Health Service:
Former U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), the law’s sponsor, admitted during debate of his proposal that he was targeting poor women because they were the only ones vulnerable enough for him to reach. “I certainly would like to prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a middle-class woman, or a poor woman,” he said. “Unfortunately, the only vehicle available is the … Medicaid bill.”
Meanwhile, ultra-conservative Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is calling on Congress to de-fund the reproductive health provider Planned Parenthood, Andy Birkey reports in the Minnesota Independent. In an interview with a conservative news site, Bachmann doubled down on that idea, suggesting that all of health care reform be de-funded because it funds abortions. This is not true. The aforementioned Hyde Amendment guarantees as much. Furthermore, even though health reform never would have funded abortions, President Obama signed an eleventh-hour executive order guaranteeing that health care reform would not fund abortions.
Brooklyn bees gorge on maraschino cherry run-off
Home beekeeping is the hottest new trend for health-conscious locavores. New York City recently changed the law to accommodate beekeepers in the five boroughs. Just because you live in an industrial neighborhood in Brooklyn is no reason to miss out on this sweet action, right? Well, actually, there is a catch. That nice honey at the farmers’ market tastes like lavender because that’s what those rural bees ate. What do bees in Red Hook, Brooklyn eat? Run-off from a maraschino cherry factory. The overindulgent bees “look like vampires” according to one local keeper and their honey runs bright red. Maraschino honey sounds like a delicious mash-up of high and low culture. Unfortunately, Sarah Goodyear reports in Grist that the end product doesn’t taste nearly as good as it looks. Arthur Mondella, the owner of Dell’s Maraschino Cherries, wants to do right by the beekeepers. He initially suggested putting out vats of different colored syrup to “help” the bees make rainbow honey. His proposal was not well-received by the crunchy set. Instead, he has agreed to work with the beekeepers to keep the bees out of the vats next year.
This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about health care by members of The Media Consortium. It is free to reprint. Visit the Pulse for a complete list of articles on health care reform, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy, environment, health care and immigration issues, check out The Audit, The Mulch, and The Diaspora. This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of leading independent media outlets.By Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger
Dr. Kenneth Katz recently published... more
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Leaders of the different branches of the U.S. armed forces gave sharply divergent answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday when asked whether the military's controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy should be repealed, and what the consequences of a repeal might be.
They appeared united, however, in their belief that a repeal would be better handled if ordered by congressional legislation rather than a ruling from the courts.
The strongest resistance to allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly came from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, who warned of potentially strong repercussions in terms of unit cohesion.
"If the law is changed, successfully implementing repeal and assimilating openly homosexual Marines into the tightly woven fabric of our combat units has strong potential for disruption at the small unit level, as it will no doubt divert leadership attention away from an almost singular focus of preparing units for combat," Amos told the committee members.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said a repeal of the policy could be implemented with a "moderate risk to our military effectiveness and the long-term health of the force."
"I believe the law should be repealed eventually," he said, but the question "is one of timing." Casey said he "would not recommend going forward at this time, given everything the Army has on its plate."
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said he believes the law should be repealed "at some point ... perhaps 2012" but it would not be prudent to pursue "full implementation (of a repeal) in the near-term."
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead recommended a repeal of the policy, noting that 76 percent of sailors are either neutral or feel positively about a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp noted that a majority of members in his branch of the service appeared not have a problem with a repeal, but that "prudence dictates" proceeding with caution.
Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he believes implementation of a repeal would involve a "manageable risk with regard to military effectiveness." even in light of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In fact, Cartwright argued, the ongoing conflicts may make a repeal of the policy easier. During a conflict, members of the military "rely on the warrior ethos" of their fellow soldiers, and lifestyle concerns are diminished.
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the committee's top Republican, said the divergent opinions reinforced his view that more debate is warranted.
But Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the committee, said he remains a staunch of advocate of a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."
Levin said there was greater resistance to allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the British and Canadian militaries than there is in U.S. armed forces today. But now, he noted, gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in both countries, and there has been "no evidence" of diminished combat effectiveness as a result.
President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen all support a repeal of the policy.
A recently released Pentagon review found that most military personnel would not change their career plans if the policy was changed. Opposition to the change appeared much higher in Army and Marine combat units than elsewhere in the military.
Mullen told the Armed Services Committee Thursday that he believes that even among those combat forces, a transition to a new law is possible.
"Should repeal occur, some soldiers and Marines may want separate shower facilities. Some may ask for different berthing. Some may even quit the service. We'll deal with that. But I believe, and history tells, that most of them will put aside personal proclivities for something larger than themselves and for each other," he said.
With just weeks left for this Congress, the calendar could be the biggest factor weighing on whether the law is repealed or upheld.
The House has already approved the repeal.Leaders of the different branches of the U.S. armed forces gave sharply divergent... more
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Every argument McCain has proposed against repealing 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' has been repudiated, yet he keeps coming up with new reasons to oppose it. Let's be honest, McCain opposes repeal because he is homophobic. In my book, that makes him a bigot. He's no different than the bigots who opposed racial integration of the military.Every argument McCain has proposed against repealing 'Don't Ask Don't... more
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